Dryer

[Samuraisan]

I would like dry my towels outside and then fluff them up in my dryer. Does anyone have a trick how to make it think they are wet ? I tried today and the dryer didn't even get hot. I have no dial to control the heat, just " Dry" " ironing dry" etc. I put it in extra dry.

[Tilly2]

Do you have a 'Cool air' option, Sam?

[Samuraisan]

I will go and have a look Tilly

[ummmm]

Sounds like a posh dryer. Mine just has hi and low settings :-)

[Islay]

Don't use softener and don't fully dry them, pop them in whilst still damp.

[Samuraisan]

Seems so Tilly. " cold air program " duly translated. Shall I try using that option?

[ummmm]

Apparently putting tennis balls in the dryer fluffs things up.

[Tilly2]

Give it a try, Sam.......mine also has a 'hot air' function. Both seem to work for fluffing towels.

[Samuraisan]

Problem is Islay, I hung them out this morning before going to work. They were dry when I came back.

[Samuraisan]

Ah yes ummmm. I seem to remember that.

[Islay]

mmm I see your issue!

[EDDIE51]

NEVER use fabric conditioner to wash towels or tea towels. The conditioner coats each fiber in the towel with a minute amount of a liquid that makes it feel soft. But this same liquid ( hair conditioner is almost identical) means the towel will not absorb water as easily or as well as it does without conditioner. It basically makes the towel waterproof or semi water proof!

[Samuraisan]

I'll try that Eddie. Goes against the grain a bit though.

[Tilly2]

I never use conditioner when washing towels and tea cloths either. I was them, dry them and soften them in the dryer.

[EDDIE51]

Information on towels here it says the same as me 'DO NOT USE FABRIC CONDITIONER'
http://www.richardhaworth.co.uk/bath-linen-guide
To get 'fluffy' towels you must have high quality towels in the first place a cheap towel will never fluff up.
Towel quality is determined by the weight in Gram per Square Meter GSM
For a good quality towel you need at least 700 GSM , the best are 900 to 950 GSM.
Cheap towels , ok for a gym towel, are 300 to 400 GSM .
Tea towels are only 150 to 200 GSM
Finally only buy 100% cotton towels, they can absorb 25 x their own weight in water !

[Islay]

Wow Eddie who'd have thought that!

Perhaps only an hour ago when it was first mentioned!!

[EDDIE51]

Tilly2 tumble drier fabric conditioner does the same thing it coats the fibers and makes them feel soft but stops them being absorbent. Do not use any conditioner except those 'balls' you can get , tennis balls work for this as well. They don't coat the fibers but fluff / soften them by 'knocking the fibers about' ( that's the best way I can explain how it works)
Did you know fabric conditioner also makes fabric more inflammable and should never be used on babies/children's clothes for that reason!

[EDDIE51]

Read the link Islay it's not something I made up!
Here is the information on fabric conditioner reducing the fire resistance of clothes
https://www.aaas.org/abstract/burning-softly-study-effect-fabric-softener-flame-resistance-clothes
It's not something the companies that produce fabric conditioner want you to know, but it is there in very small print on most brands of fabric conditioner.

[EDDIE51]

Just looked at our bottle of fabric conditioner and it is not on the bottle , but if you log on to the 'Product Information' web site that it gives, you do get the information about reduced flame resistance. Sneaky ! How many people bother to do that?

[Islay]

Perhaps I was referring to the post where I mentioned not using fabric softener and hour before you!

[Tilly2]

Comfort....ably Numb, now.